The Thames
Photo by Ruth Gledhill on Unsplash 

Some Things Don't Matter

I try as hard as I can to be as 'inclusive' to many different music styles on this site, I know, I have a preference for more punk/goth/garage and R&B type styles at times, but I think it is important (at least to me) to include other sounds that I maybe found later in life that still give me some happy memories, not all of them perhaps would necessarily be expected based on previous posts, still that is the beauty of having a website devoted to music and memories! So, let's go with this one...

I am sure most people are aware of Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn, this one hit the dancefloors back in the 90's...

The track 'Missing' was released in 1994 from the duos eight studio album 'Amplified Heart' on the (originally Independent Blanco Y Negro record label). The above is the remixed Todd Terry version, the original album version is much more low key have a listen at the link 'Missing'. The original  album version only reached a paltry #69 in the U.K. Singles charts in '94. It was until a year later when Todd Terry got hold of it and gave it a little shake about it finally hit #3 in the charts. I personally quite like the 'no frills' album version.

The dynamic duo also recorded on Cherry Red Records another Independent Label with their first collaborative release in 1983 called 'Night & Day' an old Cole Porter number. They were also to collaborate with Bristol based band Massive Attack on the track 'Protection' released in 1995.

 
I got lucky enough to see Massive Attack at the V99 Festival in Chelmsford on 21st August '99 with my wife and her brother who had popped over from Australia and decided to hook along with us for the gig, to be honest back before then if someone had offered me tickets to see a 'trip hop' type band I would have probably turned it down, but as I got older I appreciated the different sounds so much more and I am so glad I saw them, their stage presence and sound was at the time something quite special. The music from their album 'Mezzanine' featured heavily, which was good and I was reminded of it again recently upon visiting the theatre in London to see a play called  2:22 A Ghost Story
2:22 A Ghost Story
Image Source: kxtickets.com
Much of the music played was from Massive Attack, the music fitting in so well with the dark subject matter and assisting in the 'atmosphere' of the play. One of the feature songs from the album is 'Angel' which although very dark and brooding was partially sampled from 'The Incredible Bongo Band' from their 1972 track 'Last Bongo In Belgium'. I guess you can perhaps hear the kick off beat. It is amazing and 'hats off' to bands that they find and sample such obscure sounds and bring them to the masses. I really quite liked the whole sounds especially by bands of the day such as Portishead, another Bristol based trip hop band, catch 'Mysterons' at the youtube link taken from their 1994 album 'Dummy' released on the Go! Beat Records label.
 
Finally just to ease us back into some more laid back sounds with Mr Watt...

Ben Watt On Pillows & Prayers

The track below is from Ben Watt solo on the Album 'Pillows & Prayers' released on Cherry Red Records back in 1982.

Some Things Don't Matter

With the awesome laid back style and the tremendously brilliant Saxophone break, simplistic in style, no fuss, no complex fluffy production stuff. Just a guy singing, beautiful acoustic guitar and simplistic style. In my humble opinion a track that is quite breathtakingly beautiful. 

Pillows & Prayers
Pillows & Prayers, Cherry Red Records

Catch Ben Watt explaining how he got into music and encouragement from head of Cherry Red Records Mike Allway live at the youtube link Ben Watt, Some Things Don't Matter Live.

The track is taken from his debut album North Marine Drive, the debut album by Ben Watt released in 1983 on the Cherry Red Label and evidently hit the top spot in the UK Indie Chart of the day. The saxophone break in the track above was provided by Peter King a legendary jazz saxophonist who worked with some of the jazz greats.

 

Video Thanks

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Picture Sources

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Photo by Ruth Gledhill on Unsplash 

 

 

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